This year during the month of Ramadan, on the 7th of Ramadan, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, comprising its university and related institutions, marked 1082 years since the establishment of the historic Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. This is an unprecedented honour for an institution to be blessed with this longevity and authenticity for over a millennium. On this occasion, Al-Azhar Alumni UK, which is the UK Branch of the World Organisation for Al-Azhar Graduates, extends its congratulations, well-wishes, and prayers to the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, all the scholars, students, and institutions of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, as well as its fifty thousand graduates across the world.
During the month of Ramadan, Al-Azhar Alumni UK was honoured to host the current Imam of the historic Al-Azhar Mosque, Shaykh Hani Sa’d Mahmud al-Azhari, for the second consecutive year. Following Eid al-Fitr, on Wednesday 4th May 2022, an event and a scholar’s meeting were held in Bradford (UK) to mark the International Al-Azhar Day, which was attended by a number of graduates of Al-Azhar University, as well as graduates of the UK’s Jamia Al-Karam, in which Shaykh Hani Sa’d Mahmud al-Azhari was the guest of honour. Other notable scholars and Imams of the UK were also in attendance, including Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE (Leeds) and Allama Umar Hayat Qadri (Huddersfield).
During the event, presentations were given on the current work of Al-Azhar Alumni UK as well as the role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in furthering the advancement of Islamic scholarship in the world and promoting the moderation of Islam in order to counter extremist narratives and Islamophobic tendencies. Shaykh Hani Sa’d Mahmud al-Azhari delivered his keynote remarks and guest scholars Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE and Allama Umar Hayat Qadri shared their thoughts on the challenges and possible pursuits regarding the Muslim community and its religious leadership in Great Britain.
Attendees met one another, had discussions, and shared their knowledge and experiences, since all of them are Imams and scholars serving in various capacities and roles in the towns and cities across northern England.
